CALGARY, Alta. – As the World Junior Hockey Championships prepares to commence in Buffalo, N.Y., there is a solid base of Canadian Junior Hockey League connections with the Team Canada under-20 line-up.

No less than seven CJHL alumni are on the Team Canada playing roster that opens up WJHC action vs. Finland Tuesday afternoon while another is on the coaching staff.

One of the team’s goaltenders is Colton Point, who was a standout netminder for the Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL).

Prior to that he also saw time in the CJHL with both the Powassan Voodoos (NOJHL) and North Bay Trappers (NOJHL).

Helping lead Canada’s defensive corps is a pair of former CJHL standouts in Cale Makar and Dante Fabbro.

Makar was both the CJHL’s Top Defenceman and Most Valuable Player award recipient in 2016-17 where he helped lead the Brooks Bandits (AJHL) to both a league championship in the Alberta Junior Hockey League and a second place finish at the RBC Cup.

Makar also went on to be selected in the first round, fourth overall, by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2017 NHL Draft in Chicago.

He is currently in his freshman year in the NCAA at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst of Hockey East.

Another stalwart defenceman with Canada is Dante Fabbro, who starred for the Penticton Vees (BCHL) for two seasons. He also saw some game action with the Langley Rivermen (BCHL).

Fabbro is a sophomore at Boston University in Hockey East and was also a first round NHL draft choice after being selected by the Nashville Predators, 17th overall, back in 2016.

Like Makar, he too earned CJHL Top Defenceman laurels, with his accolades coming during the 2015-16 campaign.

Up front Canada boasts four CJHL alums in Alex Formenton, who skated for the Aurora Tigers (OJHL), ex Soo Thunderbirds (NOJHL) forward Boris Katchouk along with Drake Batherson who suited up for the Valley Wildcats (MHL) previously.

You also had Sam Steel having a stint with the Sherwood Park Crusaders (AJHL) back in 2013-14.

Behind the bench Team Canada head coach Dominique Ducharme also has CJHL roots.

He spent four seasons as head coach of the Joliette L’Action (LHJAAAQ), which included leading his side to a Quebec AAA Jr. League crown, a Fred Page Cup Eastern Canadian Jr. A title and a place in the RBC Cup back in 2005-06.